112: EU emergency number available everywhere in the EU, free of charge.
How does it work?
- Call 112 from fixed or mobile phones to contact any emergency service: ambulance, fire fighters or police.
- A specially trained operator will answer any 112 call. The operator will either deal with the request directly or transfer the call to the most appropriate emergency service.
- Operators in many countries can speak their national language, English or French.
- Operators can identify where caller is physically located and will pass this location to the emergency services for quick help.
- 112 is used in some countries outside the EU - such as Switzerland and South Africa - and is available worldwide on GSM networks. This means you can dial 112 from a mobile anywhere in the world and get help.
Do Remember
- In some countries 112 functions alongside national emergency numbers.
- Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Sweden use 112 as their only national emergency number.
- 112 operators are only for emergencies. They do not provide traffic and weather reports, general information or answers to queries.
- Hoax calls to 112 waste the time and money of the emergency operators. They can also be dangerous; in many countries hoax calls to emergency services are a criminal offence.
eCall
New cars are equipped with eCall technology, which automatically dials 112 in the event of a serious road accident and communicates the vehicle's location to the emergency services.
Other emergency information
116 000: missing children
116 000 is the hotline for missing children, available in all 27 EU countries.
The hotline can be used to report a missing child; it also provides guidance and support to the families of missing children.
When you're travelling in the EU, remember to take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. If you need emergency medical care, the EHIC card will simplify the paperwork and help you get refunded for any public health care expenses.
Melita wishes you safe travels.
